The beginning portion of this verse says that the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. Jesus said that He came not only that we might have life, but have it to the full! The moment we begin to think that in some way, that this fullness of life has anything to do with this life, let us remember the apostle John’s words.

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

I will give You thanks in the great congregation; I will praise You among a mighty throng.

Psalm 35:18

God’s way for Christians has always been the local church. And, I don’t mean the house church, primarily. It is God that has set up pastors and leaders in the body, to equip and teach them, to bring them to maturity in faith (Ephesians 4:11-13). Even the verse most commonly referred to in the support of the house church indicates both the meeting together in the temple courts as a great assembly as well as house to house, sharing meals (Acts 2:46).

The passage from Ephesians 4 describing ministry roles has two very important aspects. For some it is a job-description, detailing the calling of some and the role of their ministry. For others, it could be likened to an street address for being trained. Those who want to be equipped should find their way around such people that are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, because that is who God has given to do the job. If you don’t see the job getting done, it could be that you are in the wrong spot!

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.

Matthew 13:1-2

The crowds came to Jesus. Thousands had heard of the miracles following this man. This man, who was God, had the wisdom of the Eternity within His heart, and He chose to take a moment to go out to the lake. Perhaps He went out to pray in a quiet place, or possibly to rest for a moment, but, whatever the reason, the crowds surrounded Him until He was pressed on every side. While the masses swelled, He entered a boat and taught them, while the people came.

Everyone wants the miraculous, the signs, wonders, and miracles, but who wants the reason behind them? We want the power, but who wants the man? We want the demonstration, but who wants the price he paid?

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

Faith is the substance, the spiritual substructure or foundation of a thing, that if you have it, you have it, you have the actual thing in spiritual form. While hope is relative to the future, faith is always a “Now” thing. Because to have the substance of the thing is to have it in actuality, while the manifestation of the material or appearance of a thing may be yet forthcoming, the presence of faith, the presence of the thing in the Spirit, is the same as having it in the natural. True faith, when it is real faith, and it is not ever wrong. If the thing does not appear, either keep waiting, you got off faith, or it was not faith in the first place.

However, faith is not only the substance of a thing hoped for, it is also the proof of a thing. This is important also to know. While the faith is the presence of a thing, simply to have faith is proof that it is so. You cannot have God’s kind of faith in a lie, and because “faith” and “wrong” cannot happen in the same place at the same time, you will never have faith in a non-thing. Faith cannot be attached to a fantasy. Faith, goes beyond substance to the evidence and proof that something is.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Matthew 7:7

This is part of the good news Jesus came to bring. If we ask for it, He will bring it. If we look for it, we will find it. If we keep knocking at the door, eventually, it will open for us. This is Kingdom 101 quite often, and, whether it is accepted as such or dismissed from there, it can often get little investigation later. However, as with many of Jesus’ sayings, they apply to multiple levels.

For instance, take the phrase “Seek and you will find.” This, of course, applies to the Kingdom of Heaven, to God the Father, and to Jesus. This of course applies to answers and deliverances and other such burdens we offer towards heaven. But, let’s look at this another way for a moment.

Jesus ministered on the Earth in the power of the Spirit. The gifts were evident yet not on display. The Spirit was present, and the gifts were promised, but the primary focus of the teaching was directed towards the Father’s will.